The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-23
NEVER FORGET NAMES.
Some Big Men Who Never Forgot Names or
Faces-A Very Useful Faculty.

New York Mail and Express.
During President Arthur's trip to Florida. in
1888 he went to st Augustine for brief stay,
and by mistake arrived at the hotel some
time before his rooms were ready for him. One
of the clerks went into the hotel parlor. where
the President was waiting to shake hands with
him.
him heartily, Il haven't seen you for twenty
wears The last time / you you made
special effort to get me good room at Wllllards,
in Washington, in 1862. You were clerk there
then"
In speaking of the incident afterward the
President said that he had heard years before
that Thurlow Weed had once said to William
II. Seward that above all things politician.
especially one who expected to be candidate
for office, should learn always to remember the
face of every man whom he ever met, and the
name that went with the face.
General Arthur said that whether Thurlow
Weed said this or not it was quite true, and
was true as matter of courtesy and good will
as well of selfish policy in business or politics.
He had, fortunately, very little difficulty IN re-
Numbering faces and names. and he had always
made it point to fix the face and name of every
person whom he met, even in a casual way, In
his mind and usually able to do so.
General Arthur was quite right in this state
ment. No man whom he ever met. save many
of those who passed him in the crush and haste
of a White House reception, ever had to be pre-
sented a second time to him. When he was &C
tive in New York politics men from the country
districts were sometimes brought to him, and
before the introduction was finished General
Arthur would be quite likely to say:
ooh. know Mr. Smith very well; met at
such and such place." Or, why, Mr. Brown,
it isn't necessary for us to be introduced to one
another; you and 1 met ten years ago at SYRIA
cuse don't you remember
That was a greeting that set all men at ease,
and no local worker in ward politics. however
humble ever met General Arthur to be forgot
ten Unlike very many other public men. he
never forgot the face or name of a newspaper
man. and he had to do with very many In his
career If new one called upon him for infor-
nation or an interview he was careful to ask
him for his name card, and could probably
before going to Washington call more reporters
by than any other pubic man In New
York
He did not cultivate the habit out of policy.
but as he said, because he believed that true
courtesy and the honorable wish to please re-
oured that effort be made never to forget
one who had once been presented.
This gift. however. Is not common one,
either by cultivation or natural possession
Many are the politicians who have done great
damage to their aspirations by willfully or care
lessly neglec ting to cultivate the habit of re-
Numbering names and faces.
Mr.. Blaine possesses this qualification for sue
cess in public life, and nothing greatly an
novs him as to learn that it has been necessary
to Introduce any one twice to him If he does
not catch the name at the introduce ton he takes
the first opportunity to learn what it is. In
these later days he does not always make mani
fest his recollections. for there men
whom he has been obliged to meet whom he
prefers to hold off at distance. A story is told
through a crowded car, he nodded casually to
man he knew. This man stared at him in
amazement and awkwardly returned the salu-
tation BY and by Mr. Blaine took vacant
seat beside this man and said:
Jones don't believe you remember me, but